A newly released BL (Boys’ Love) web novel has been suspended less than 24 hours after publication following allegations that the main character was modeled too closely after superstar esports athlete Faker.
On October 24, Ridibooks published A Mad Dog Hunts A Tiger, a 19+ BL novel centered on a male pro gamer named Beom Juhwan, nicknamed “Tiger.” The character is described as a dominant, undefeated legend for a fictional team called Critique boasting five championship wins, a long-running career, immense popularity, and social inexperience due to debuting at a young age.
Readers immediately pointed out that the character’s profile bore striking resemblance to Faker, the world-renowned League of Legends pro who debuted at 17 and currently holds a historic six World Championship titles.
Netizens highlighted multiple parallels that were far too specific to ignore:
- A debut at a young age
- Consecutive championship wins
- A failed “three-peat” attempt
- A successful title comeback nearly a decade later
- A long-standing roster with unmatched consistency something unique to T1 in esports history
Even the story’s mention of a “re-peat” followed by a failed “three-peat” and later redemption mirrored Faker’s real competitive timeline with SKT and T1, prompting readers to accuse the author of using his career as a near-direct template.
As the controversy escalated across X (formerly Twitter) and major online communities, the author initially called the similarities “coincidental” and emphasized that the work was entirely fictional. However, the explanation intensified backlash instead of easing it.
Facing growing criticism, the author later issued a formal apology addressing both Faker and fans. She acknowledged that she overlooked how uniquely identifiable the esports star’s achievements were, calling her own judgment “short-sighted.” While she denied intentionally modeling the character after Faker, she admitted that her insufficient review caused confusion and harm. She also promised to revise problematic content and provide further updates.
Currently, searches for the title on Ridibooks display a notice stating that the work has been temporarily suspended at the request of the publisher or copyright holder, with no additional information accessible.
The incident has reignited debates about creative boundaries in fiction, especially when fictional characters appear to mirror the lives of real individuals a sensitive issue when those individuals are globally recognized and hold irreplaceable historical achievements.
Sources: Theqoo
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